Bigger is....worse?

[creyc 10+ year member]

So I noticed this today, when I got in a new Ford F-150 with the subwoofer under the rear seat, the bass hits very tight. Like, crazy tight. Felt like I was getting kicked every time the bass hits, not kicked too hard but still has that visceral feeling.

I'm used to 12's and 15's running a thousand watts, and this is a tiny plastic box with maybe an 8" driver. Obviously the 8 doesn't make your bones rattle, but it sounds so musical and tight. By comparison 12's sound slow, like they're lumbering through the bass, pushing out a stream of low frequencies but still slightly mushed.

Is this just the nature of smaller drivers? Can i get the best of both worlds with lots of 8's? I really like the tight sound of the 8's, I would give up a high powered system for it.

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[PESteele 10+ year member]

it all depends on the sub and the box

 

[dvrmstrng 5,000+ posts]

IMO no thats why 8's are 8's and an 18 is an 18....8's sealed will be very tight and musical where the bigger you go the lower and louder you get...so if your looking to get the output of a 12 or 15 from an 8...i wish you luck

 

[Lil_KB 10+ year member]

put anything in a small sealed enclosure and you will get tight musical bass.

 

[CRXican 10+ year member]

common misconception

I plan to have my 12W6v2 punch like a mother****er off about 500-600 watts

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

maybe he hasnt heard a mag

 

[creyc 10+ year member]

I've heard Eclipse 12's in a sealed box, RE SE12 in a ported box, Audiobahn craps in a sealed box (sounded like crap), some 15" MTXs which I forgot the name of, then the enlightening Ford 8" stock subwoofer.

As for high power in small box, I can't see how thats the truth at all. Look at hi-fi speakers, its always large enclosures and usually ported.

I would think the box plays a huge part of the equation but I've always paid very close attention to the manufacturer recommendation on box size and tuning. If i had enough time and money I'd experiment with enclosure size till I understand it.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

It depends on the speaker, the power, the box, and one other very, very important factor...

The Vehicle.

I've experienced this first hand, because me and my dad have the same subs in the same boxes and they sound nothing alike (I have a Ranger, he has an old 'yota). He only has one 8", but the actual sound is different. His seems warmer and almost "angelic" but isn't really as loud as mine. I mean, I'm sure if we got metered, it'd be just about the same, but the vehicle plays a major part in the way the actual sound is reproduced.

EDIT:

Not to say his necessarily sounds better than mine, because that all changes depending on the music we put on. I love his setup for like Classical music and some rock/pop, but I love mine on rap and other rock/pop. Plus he has some Boston Acoustic mids (which I love the sound of and will likely get for my next setup).

 

[Crown_amps]

So I noticed this today, when I got in a new Ford F-150 with the subwoofer under the rear seat, the bass hits very tight. Like, crazy tight. Felt like I was getting kicked every time the bass hits, not kicked too hard but still has that visceral feeling.
I'm used to 12's and 15's running a thousand watts, and this is a tiny plastic box with maybe an 8" driver. Obviously the 8 doesn't make your bones rattle, but it sounds so musical and tight. By comparison 12's sound slow, like they're lumbering through the bass, pushing out a stream of low frequencies but still slightly mushed.

Is this just the nature of smaller drivers? Can i get the best of both worlds with lots of 8's? I really like the tight sound of the 8's, I would give up a high powered system for it.

my type S 12 hits low and tight notes well //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

install install install

 

[thadman 10+ year member]

The 8 is probably actually exaggerating the midbass and rolling off early...and not playing true bass

 

[UndercoverPunk 5,000+ posts]

It depends on the speaker, the power, the box, and one other very, very important factor...
The Vehicle.

I've experienced this first hand, because me and my dad have the same subs in the same boxes and they sound nothing alike (I have a Ranger, he has an old 'yota). He only has one 8", but the actual sound is different. His seems warmer and almost "angelic" but isn't really as loud as mine. I mean, I'm sure if we got metered, it'd be just about the same, but the vehicle plays a major part in the way the actual sound is reproduced.

EDIT:

Not to say his necessarily sounds better than mine, because that all changes depending on the music we put on. I love his setup for like Classical music and some rock/pop, but I love mine on rap and other rock/pop. Plus he has some Boston Acoustic mids (which I love the sound of and will likely get for my next setup).

I bet if you metered them they be more off than you think.

as for the rest of the thread, ignorance is bliss.

I would say you just hadn't come up with the right install. I'm glad you like your factory 8, as that's all that really matters, but I think you completely off base in your thinking about how larger subs just can't sound as good as their smaller counterparts.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

UndercoverPunk, it'd obviously be quite different since I have two and he only has one, but if I took one out, would it still be different? I just figured the vehicle only made it sound louder/softer, but didn't actually mean it wasn't hitting the same dBs. Then again, it would make sense because he has a much larger cabin (extended cab) and his sub isn't putting all its output right into the back of the seats (it's going up).

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

http://www.adireaudio.com/Files/TechPapers/WooferSpeed.pdf

Read.

Learn.

 

[UndercoverPunk 5,000+ posts]

UndercoverPunk, it'd obviously be quite different since I have two and he only has one, but if I took one out, would it still be different? I just figured the vehicle only made it sound louder/softer, but didn't actually mean it wasn't hitting the same dBs. Then again, it would make sense because he has a much larger cabin (extended cab) and his sub isn't putting all its output right into the back of the seats (it's going up).

You'd be surprised just how much the vehicle effects EVERYTHING. Take the classic CRX as an example, it's just naturally louder then most other cars, that's just how it is. I'm not saying it's impossible that you two would hit the exact same number with the same system in different cars, just trying to stress the fact that the vehicle is more than a tiny factor.

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

my 15"s are very tight.